Table of contents

All beekeeper certificates of registration expire on June 29 each year.

Overview

The Alberta Bee Act and its Regulation regulate beekeeper in Alberta. Beekeeper registration is mandatory. The certificate of registration is valid from the time it is issued to the following June 29.

Your beekeeper registration information is used for monitoring diseases and pests to ensure healthy bees. It also keeps industry statistics up to date.

Registration submission

If you are planning to purchase honey bees or equipment for the first time, see our fact sheet, Purchasing honey bees or equipment in Alberta: questions to ask and things to consider.

Step 1: Complete the form

Complete the Beekeeper Registration form. There are different ways to get a form:

Online/Download Hard copy
Beekeeper Registration form (PDF, 52 KB)
  • Fill out form online then download it to your computer
 Print Beekeeper Registration form (PDF, 52 KB).
  • Fill out form by hand.
Note: you cannot use the Print Version button to print the blank form. Instead, Right/click > Print.
Troubleshooting tips for using online form:
  • Once you have filled out the Beekeeper Registration Form, click the Print Version button. This will open a pdf that you can download or save to your computer.
  • If you cannot click Print Version, there may be spaces not filled in (marked orange/red). If an empty space is not applicable, enter N/A or 0 to indicate so.
  • Fill in all areas of the purchasing section (all columns and rows).
  • Still having problems? Please contact us.
 No access to a printer?
  • Email or call the Bee Health Assurance Team to ask for a hard copy of the Beekeeper Registration form. See contact information below.

Step 2. Send completed form

Send your completed Beekeeper Registration form to the Office of the Provincial Apiculturist by email, fax or mail. See contact information below.

If you are on a mobile or tablet you can also take a screenshot and email it as a large photo.

Step 3. After you apply

After sending in your registration form, Bee Health Assurance staff may contact you to verify your information.

Once your registration is processed, the team will send you a certificate with a beekeeper registration number and an expiry date of June 29 the following year.

Registration renewal and updates

Renewals: beekeepers are required to renew their registration annually or for any major changes during the current registration year. To renew your registration, see Registration submission above.

Updates: send all applicable registration updates to the Bee Health assurance Team by email or mail. Updates could include:

  • contact information (such as mailing address, phone number, email)
  • number of colonies
  • purchase of bees or queens
  • purchase of used equipment
  • changes to apiary locations (county/municipality/city location only)

Registration deletions

Used beekeeper equipment (hive boxes) can harbour diseases and pests for many years even when honey bees are not present. This is why registering used equipment is required and important for honey bee health. For more information, see Honey bee pests and diseases.

If you no longer own beekeeper equipment or honey bee colonies, we will need the following information to remove your information from our database:

  • The name of who you sold or gave the colonies or used equipment to, or what was done with the hive boxes

Once we receive this information, your information will be removed from our system. If you still own used equipment, you are required to register annually.

Premises Identification Number

The Premises Identification Number (PID) is provided through Alberta’s traceability program and is separate from the Bee Health Assurance program. Beekeepers need a PID number to access medications for honey bee diseases and pests. Register with the animal Premises Identification Program.

Contact

Connect with the Office of the Provincial Apiculturist:

Hours: 8 am to 4 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-644-8746
Fax: 780-422-6096
Email: [email protected]

Mail:
Bee Health Assurance Team
Crop Diversification Centre North
17507 Fort Road NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5Y 6H3

Related

Premises Identification Program

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